Arabian Nights

by Richard Burton

  So she, too, thanked him for his deed, and Salih replied to the king, “My lord, it is we who are obliged to you, for you have treated our sister with kindness, and we have entered your palace and eaten your food. Therefore, even if we stood on our heads in serving you, it would be nothing but a scant gesture for what you deserve.”

  The king thanked him warmly, and the merman and mermaids remained with him for forty days, at the end of which time Salih arose and kissed the ground before his brother-in-law, who asked, “What can I do for you, Salih?”

  “Your majesty, you have done more than enough for us, and we only crave your permission to depart, for we long for our people and country. We shall never forget you, our sister, or our nephew and shall always be there to serve you. By Allah, it is not easy to part from you, because you have been so kind to us, but what can we do? We were reared in the sea, and we cannot get accustomed to the land.”

  When the king heard these words, he arose and said farewell to Salih, his mother, and his cousins, and they all wept together. Soon they said to him, “We must be off, but we won’t forsake you, for we plan to visit you as often as possible.”

  Then they departed, and after descending into the sea, they disappeared from sight.

  And Scheherazade noticed that dawn was approaching and stopped telling her story. When the next night arrived, however, she received the king’s permission to continue her tale and said,

  After this King Shahriman showed Julnar even more kindness and honored her with even more respect than before. Their son grew up and flourished, while his maternal uncle, grandma, and cousins visited the king whenever they could and stayed with him a month or two months at a time. The boy became more and more handsome and lovely as years went by, and when he reached the age of fifteen he had a grand physique. Moreover, he learned how to write and read the Koran and studied history, syntax, and lexicography. He became an expert in archery, spear-throwing, horsemanship, and whatever else it was fitting for the son of a king to learn. Everyone in the city, man, woman, and child, talked continually about the boy’s charms, for he was perfectly handsome and pleasant. And, indeed, the king loved him more than anything else, and one day he summoned his vizier, emirs, chief officers of state, and grandees of his realm and made them take an oath that they would make Badar Basim their new king. In turn, they gladly pledged their loyalty, for the monarch was liberal to his lieges, diplomatic, and fair, and he always thought of his people first. The next day Shahriman mounted with his troops, emirs, and lords and went into the city to announce what they had done. Then they began their return to the palace, and as they approached it, the king dismounted to wait upon his son, who remained on his horse. The king and all the emirs and nobles carried the saddle cloth of honor before him, until they came to the vestibule of the palace, where the prince got off his horse, and his father and the emirs embraced him and seated him on the royal throne. While they stood before him, Badar Basim began to hold court and to judge the people, rewarding the just and punishing the unjust, and he continued doing so until noon, when he descended the throne and went to his mother, Julnar the Mermaid, with the crown on his head as if he were the moon. When she saw him with the king standing before him, she rose, and after kissing him, she rejoiced in his becoming sultan and wished him and his sire long lives and victory over their foes. Badar Basim sat with his mother and rested until the hour of midafternoon prayer, when he mounted his horse and went to the Maydan plain preceded by the emirs, and there he played at arms with his father and his lords until nightfall. After that he returned to the palace preceded by his entourage.

  Badar Basim continued riding out every day to the tilting ground, and he continued judging the people in a just manner for one whole year. At the end of that time he went out hunting and made the rounds of the cities and countries under his rule, guaranteeing the people his protection and security as it was fitting for kings to do. Gradually he established a wonderful reputation among the people because of his valor and sense of justice.

  Now one day it so happened that the old king fell ill, and when the sickness became worse and he knew that he was near death, he called his son and commended his mother and subjects to his care and ordered all the emirs and nobles once more to swear allegiance to the prince. After that he lingered a few days, and then Allah mercifully granted him his death. His son and widow and all the emirs, ministers, and lords mourned over him, and they built him a tomb and buried him in it. They continued mourning for one whole month until Salih, his mother, and cousins arrived and offered their condolences to the grieving young king. Then they said to Julnar, “Though the king is dead, he has left this noble and peerless youth, and he who has left such a valorous and radiant son is therefore still with us.”

  And Scheherazade noticed that dawn was approaching and stopped telling her tale. When the next night arrived, however, she received the king’s permission to continue her tale and said,

  So the nobles and ministers of the empire went to see King Badar Basim, and they said to him, “Your majesty, there is no harm in mourning for the late sovereign, but it is not fitting to mourn too long. Only women carry on like that, and we ask you not to occupy your heart and our hearts with mourning anymore. Remember, insofar as he has left you behind him, he is still with us.”

  Then they comforted him, provided him with distractions, and took him to the Hammam bath. When he came out of the bath, he donned a rich robe lined with gold and embroidered with jewels and jacinths. After placing the royal crown in his head, he sat down on his throne and regulated the affairs of the folk by ruling wisely and justly so that his people loved him and showed him great affection. He continued doing this for one whole year, while every now and then his kinsfolk of the sea visited him, and his life was pleasant, and he saw things clearly.

  Now one night it so happened that his Uncle Salih came to visit Julnar, and after she greeted him, she asked, “How are you and my mother and cousins?”

  “They are fine and doing well,” he replied. “The only thing they lack is the sight of your face.”

  Then she set some food before him, and he ate. After the meal they talked about King Badar Basim and all his remarkable charms and skills. Now Badar was lying on some pillows nearby, and since he heard that his mother and uncle were talking about him, he pretended to be asleep and listened to their conversation. Soon Salih said to his sister, “Your son is now seventeen years old and is unmarried, and I wouldn’t want anything to happen to him without his having an heir to the throne. So I’d like him to marry soon, and indeed, I’d like him to marry a princess of the sea, who would be his match in beauty and loveliness.”

  “Whom do you have in mind?” she asked. “Tell me their names, for I know them all.”

  So Salih proceeded to name them to her, one by one, but as each princess was named, Julnar said, “I don’t like her for my son. I’ll only marry him to a princess who is his equal in beauty, wit, piety, good breeding, magnanimity, rank, and lineage.”

  “I’ve named all the daughters of the kings of the sea to you,” said Salih, “and I don’t know any more than the hundred I’ve mentioned. Of course, there is someone … But wait now, sister, and make sure that your son’s asleep.”

  So she felt Badar to see if he was asleep, and he did not move. Consequently, she said to Salih, “Don’t worry. I’m sure he’s asleep. Now tell me what you have to say and why you wanted me to make sure that he was sleeping.”

  “Well, to tell the truth,” he said, “There is a mermaid who would be a perfect match for your son. But I’m afraid to mention her name when he’s awake. She is so remarkable, and if he were to fall in love with her and we were unable to win her, it would cause great trouble for us and the nobles of the realm.”

  When Julnar heard these words, she insisted, “Tell me all about her and her name. If I judge her worthy of Badar, I’ll demand her in marriage from her father, even if I have to spend all that I possess for her. Tell me all about her, and don�
��t worry, for my son’s sound asleep.”

  So Salih said, “By Allah, my sister, no woman is worthy of your son except the Princess Jauharah, daughter of King Al-Samandal, for she is his match in beauty, loveliness, and brilliance. You won’t find a sweeter gift on land or on sea than this princess, for she has rosy cheeks, a brow as white as a flower, sparkling teeth, dark black eyes, wide hips, a slender waist, and exquisite legs. When she moves about and turns, she puts the gazelles to shame. When she unveils her face, she outshines the sun and moon, and anyone who glances at her is immediately captivated. Ah, she has such sweet lips and such a soft manner!”

  Now, when Julnar heard what Salih had to say, she replied, “All that you’ve said is true, my brother! By Allah, I’ve seen her many times, and she was my companion when we were little, but since then I’ve heard very little about her, nor have I set eyes on her for eighteen years. By Allah, none is worthy of my son but her!”

  While they were talking, Badar heard everything from first to last, and he fell in love with the Princess Jauharah just on hearsay. Pretending to be asleep, he felt the fire of love being kindled in his heart because of her, and he was drowned in a sea without shore or bottom.

  And Scheherazade noticed that dawn was approaching and stopped telling her story. When the next night arrived, however, she received the king’s permission to continue her tale and said,

  Then Salih said to his sister, “There is, however, one problem: there is no greater fool among the kings of sea than her father, nor one with a more violent temper than he! So don’t tell your son the name of the girl until we demand her hand in marriage from her father. If he consents, we shall praise Allah Almighty, and if he refuses us, we won’t say a word about it and seek some other match.”

  “That is sound advice,” Julnar said, and they stopped talking, but Badar spent the night with a heart on fire for Princess Jauharah. However, he concealed his love and did not speak to his mother or uncle about it. Now, when morning came, the king and his uncle went to the Hammam bath and washed. Then they went back to the palace, drank wine, and ate. After the meal they washed their hands, and Salih rose and said to his nephew and sister, “With your permission, I would like to go to my mother and my folk, for I’ve been with you some days, and my kinfolk have been missing me.”

  But Badar Basim said to him, “Please spend the day with us and then depart.” After Salih consented, the king continued, “Come, my uncle, let us go into the garden.”

  So they walked around the garden for a while until the king lay down under a shady tree with the intention of resting and sleeping, but he remembered his uncle’s description of the beautiful Princess Jauharah and began shedding tears and sighing. When his uncle saw the tears, he smacked his hand on the ground and exclaimed, “By Allah, you heard your mother and me talking about Princess Jauharah last night!”

  “Yes, my uncle,” Badar Basim replied, “I fell in love with her through hearsay. Indeed, my heart has swollen with love, and I feel that I’m going to burst! I cannot live without her!”

  “Let us return to your mother,” Salih said, “and tell her how you feel. Then I’ll ask her permission to take you with me and seek the princess’s hand in marriage from her father. I’m afraid to take you without her leave, because she would be very angry with me. Indeed, she’d be right to be angry, because I’d be the cause of your departure. Moreover, the city would be left without a king, and there would be no one to govern the citizens and look after their affairs. Then the kingdom would be upset, and the people would no longer recognize you as their king.”

  But Badar Basim responded, “Uncle, if I return to my mother and ask for her advice in this matter, I know she won’t grant me permission to depart. Therefore, I refuse to consult her.” And he began weeping and added, “Let’s just go, and we’ll tell her everything when we return.”

  When Salih heard what his nephew wanted to do, he became confused and said, “May Allah help me!” However, he realized how determined his nephew was to go, whether his mother would grant him permission or not, and so he drew from his finger a ring with certain names of Allah the Most High engraved on it and gave it to him. “Put this on your finger,” he said, “and it will keep you safe from drowning and other dangers, especially from the mischief of sea beasts and large fish.”

  So King Badar Basim took the ring and set it on his finger. Then they dove into the deep sea.

  And Scheherazade noticed that dawn was approaching and stopped telling her story. When the next night arrived, however, she received the king’s permission to continue her tale and said,

  After diving into the deep, Salih and his nephew King Badar Basim journeyed until they came to Salih’s palace, where they found Badar’s grandmother seated with her kinsfolk. When the old queen saw Badar, she rose, embraced him, kissed him on his forehead, and said, “My blessings! And how is your mother?”

  “She is well and happy,” he replied, “and she sends you and her cousins her greetings.”

  Then Salih related to his mother what had happened between him and his sister and how Badar had fallen in love with the Princess Jauharah. He concluded his story by saying, “And Badar has come with the sole intention of marrying the princess.”

  Upon hearing this, the old queen was extremely angry with her son and most disturbed. “Oh Salih,” she said, “it was wrong of you to name the princess in front of your nephew, especially since you know that her father is stupid and violent and is unwilling to give his daughter to anyone. All the monarchs of the high seas have sought her hand, and he has rejected every single one of them and argued, ‘You are no match for her in beauty, loveliness, or anything else!’ Therefore, I’m afraid to demand her hand in marriage from him. If he rejects us as he has rejected all the others, we shall be brokenhearted.”

  “Mother,” Salih said, “what’s there to do? The fact is that Badar is determined to marry her even if he has to give his whole kingdom for her. And he’s also told me that if he cannot wed her, he’ll die of love for her. To tell the truth, he is handsome and wealthier than she is. His father was king of all the Persians, and as his successor, no one is worthier of Jauharah than Badar. Therefore, I propose to carry a gift of jacinths and jewels to her father befitting his dignity and request her hand in marriage for Badar. If he objects and says that he is a king, I shall point out that our man is also a king and son of a king. Or if he objects and says his daughter is beautiful, I shall point out that our man is more handsome than she is beautiful. Or if he objects and says his realm is vast, I shall point out that our man’s realm is vaster and that he has many more troops and guards. I’ll do anything I can to further the cause of my sister’s son, even if it costs my life. In truth, I’m responsible for all this, and since I’m the one who plunged him into the ocean of her love, then with the help of Almighty Allah, I intend to help him marry her!”

  “Do as you want,” said his mother, “but beware of saying anything impolite to her father. You know how stupid and violent he is! I’m just afraid he might do you some mischief, for he has no respect for anyone.”

  “I’ll remember your advice,” Salih said, and he got up and left the room with his nephew. Then he took two bags full of gems such as rubies, emeralds, and other jewels and gave them to his servants to carry. Afterward he set out with Badar Basim for the palace of Al-Samandal. When they arrived there, he sought an audience with the king, and after being admitted, he kissed the ground before him and saluted him with a respectful salaam. The king rose and honored him with a seat, and after he was seated, the king said, “May you be blessed for visiting us. We have not had the pleasure of your company for a long time, Salih! What brings you to us? Tell me your errand, so I may help you fulfill it.”

  Thereupon Salih arose, kissed the ground a second time, and said, “I have come on an errand to you, my magnanimous liege lord and valiant lion, whose good qualities have been made known by caravans far and wide, and whose reputation for beneficence, clemency, graciou
sness, and generosity has been spread to all climes and countries.” After making this address, Salih opened the bags of jewels, displayed their contents before Al-Samandal, and said, “I hope you will accept this gift and do me the favor of healing my heart.”

  And Scheherazade noticed that dawn was approaching and stopped telling her story. When the next night arrived, however, she received the king’s permission to continue her tale and said,

  * * *

  Then King Al-Samandal asked, “Why have you given me this gift? Tell me your story and what is entailed. If it is within my power to help you accomplish your goal, I’ll do what I must to save you toil and trouble. But if I’m unable to assist you, you will understand that Allah never compels anyone to exceed his power.”

  After listening to the king, Salih rose, kissed the ground three times, and said, “Your majesty, that which I desire is well within your power to grant. I do not intend to impose upon you, nor have I been demented by the jinn that I would ask the impossible of you. For as one of our sages has said, ‘If you desire to have your wish granted, never ask what cannot be readily attained.’ So, I have come to ask you, oh king, and may Allah bless you with long life, for something that is within your power to grant.”

  The king replied, “Ask what you would like and tell me what you are seeking.”

  Then Salih said, “Your majesty, I have come as a suitor, seeking that unique pearl the Princess Jauharah, daughter of our lord the king, and I beseech you not to disappoint me.”

  Now, when the king heard this, he laughed so hard that he fell over on his back. After mocking Salih like this, he stood up and said, “Oh Salih, I thought you were a young man with a good head on your shoulders. What’s happened to your senses that you’ve been urged to seek this monstrous thing? Why are you endangering yourself by seeking to marry a daughter of kings, lords of cities and climates? Tell me, are you so lordly that you can aspire to such eminence? Have you lost your mind and thus feel free to offend me with this request?”